Q: I am having trouble signing in to my BC Ferries account. What should I do? A: If you have an account with which you make Reservations or manage your Experience Card, chances are you just need to find the right login page. Check our new Sign In Centre for help >>
Q: I have received an email asking me to activate my new MyBCFerries account. But when I click on the link in the email, it doesn't work properly. What should I do? A: Sometimes your email application will put a line break in the web address you need to access. Double check to see if that has happened. If it has, all you need to do is copy and paste the full web address into the address bar of your web browser.
Q: How can I find out about routes and departure times? A: Detailed information on routes and scheduled departures is available through the Routes and Schedules Regional Index on this Website.
Q: How can I find out about crossing times and distances? A: For most routes, crossing times and distances are noted near the top of each schedule page, immediately under the port names.
Q: What can you carry on your ferries? A: Pretty much anything! If it can be driven on the highway, chances are it can be carried on the ferry, from bikes and cars to RVs and trucks. Of course, foot passengers are welcome, too!
Q: Do any restrictions apply to Motorcoach and Commercial Vehicle traffic? A: On some smaller routes, weight restrictions may apply. Check individual schedule pages on this website for more information. Note that companies shipping multiple commercial vehicles on Gulf Islands routes are advised to call ahead to coordinate travel arrangements. (more >>)
Q: Do you handle motorcycles differently from other vehicles? A: Motorcycles are usually loaded onto the ferry before other vehicles. Here are some more tips for motorcycle riders:
Always ride your motorcycle onto the vessel slowly.
Motorcycles should be parked at a 45-degree angle to the ship's centre line.
Motorcycles should be left in low gear.
Your motorcycle should be parked on the side stand so that it won't fall over to the left. The opposite side should then be blocked with wooden car blocks (available on the car deck) so it won't fall over to the right.
Return to your motorcycle prior to docking to prevent it from falling over when the ferry docks against the shorepilings.
Q: What should I do if I'm riding my bicycle onboard? A: Cyclists should proceed to the vehicle ticket booths as directed by cycling signage approaching the terminal. Tickets may be purchased at any available ticket booth. (more >>)
Q: What about Dangerous Cargo? A: BC Ferries complies with the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.
There are more than 3,600 dangerous goods listed in the Act, and the regulations which govern them are often quite complex. To clarify them, we have prepared some brief notes concerning the most commonly encountered products. (more >>)
Remember that all dangerous goods must be declared at the ticket booth or to a vessel officer. Failure to declare dangerous goods is an offence under Canadian law.
Q: What about transporting livestock? A: BC Ferries offers a no-fee reservation system for livestock carriers travelling on our Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay-Langdale, and Tsawwassen-Duke Point routes. You can make your reservation online or call us at 1-888-223-3779 and speak to one of our Customer Sales and Service Representatives. (more >>)
Note that livestock carriers travelling with non-self-contained trucks are asked to travel with and use drop sheets.
Due to length of voyages, most livestock cannot be carried on our Inside Passage or Discovery Coast Passage routes. The exception to this rule is live fish, which can be transported on these routes.
Q: May I travel with my pet(s)? A: Yes. Pets must remain on vehicle decks for the duration of a voyage. The only exceptions are guide dogs for people who are visually impaired, and certified assistance dogs for those with other disabilities.
Q: Can I make reservations for travel on BC Ferries? A: Reservations are available for travel on many BC Ferries routes as described below:
Optional Vehicle Reservations on Vancouver-Vancouver Island and Vancouver-Sunshine Coast Routes If you're travelling on our Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen-Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay or Horseshoe Bay-Langdale routes, consider using BC Ferries' Reserved Boarding Service. You can book passage for your private car, truck or R.V. by phoning 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779, toll-free in North America). From your cell phone, call *BCF (*223) on Rogers or Telus Mobility networks. From outside North America, phone (250) 386-3431.
Livestock Vehicle Reservations BC Ferries offers a no-fee reservation system for livestock carriers travelling on our Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay-Langdale, and Tsawwassen-Duke Point routes. You can make your reservation online or call us at 1-888-223-3779 and speak to one of our Customer Sales and Service Representatives. (more >>)
Group Reservations Reservations may be made for groups of 10 or more passengers, travelling together on foot or by bus. Discount rates are available on some routes for groups of 16 or more - must book at least seven days in advance of travel to qualify.
Customer Sales and Service Representatives are ready to help you book your passage weekdays between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm and weekends between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. You can reach them at:
1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779) toll-free in North America
*BCF (*223 from your cell on Rogers or Telus Mobility networks)
(250) 386-3431 long distance from outside North America
Q: Can I cancel or change a reservation? A: Yes, it is possible to change or cancel a reservation. Specific policies & fees will vary by route & reservation type. For further information, please click here, select the route you wish to travel on, then select "All About RBI" from the menu on the left.
Q: Can I travel between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands by way of your Swartz Bay terminal and pay the same amount as the Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands fare? A: If you're headed to Salt Spring Island from the Lower Mainland, you can travel by taking our Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay and Swartz Bay-Fulford Harbour routes. Ask for a Throughfare ticket when you arrive at Tsawwassen. This will let you travel on both routes at the Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands fare. Or you can sail with us to Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay or Tsawwassen-Duke Point), take a scenic drive down to Crofton, and catch the ferry to our Salt Spring Island terminal at Vesuvius Bay (Throughfares are not available with this option).
If you want to sail to Mayne, Pender, Galiano or Saturna Island, you have the option of catching the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry. At Swartz Bay, you would then board the appropriate sailing to your island of choice (click on Vancouver Island Departures for schedule info). Again, ask for a Throughfare ticket when you arrive at our Tsawwassen terminal. If you are travelling from the Gulf Islands back to Tsawwassen via Swartz Bay, you can obtain a date-stamped identification voucher on board the Gulf Islands ferry. This can be purchased from a dispensing machine, the snack bar, or the Mate depending on the vessel. When you disembark at Swartz Bay, the voucher will enable you to buy your Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen transfer ticket at the lower Throughfare rate.
Note: These travel options do not provide guaranteed connections.
Q: When should I be at the terminal? A: For most routes including Vancouver-Vancouver Island and Gulf Island services (except Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands):
If you're driving onto the ferry, plan to be at the terminal at least 30 minutes before the scheduled sailing time, and even earlier in our peak summer months or during normally busy periods. Walk-on passengers must buy their tickets at least ten minutes before the scheduled sailing time.
Reservations should be claimed at the ticket booth 45 to 60 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time. If you are not checked in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time your reservation will no longer be valid and you will travel stand-by. Since the terminal may not have room to accommodate early arrivals during peak traffic periods we cannot process reserved traffic more than 60 minutes prior to the reserved sailing time. The reservation fee for unclaimed reservations will not be refunded.
Assured Loading customers must check in at the ticket booth at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Groups travelling as foot passengers on our southern routes should be at the ticket booth at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time. Groups travelling by bus should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time.
A: When to be at the terminal for Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands Service (reservations required):
If you're travelling from Tsawwassen to the Southern Gulf Islands, arrive to check in a minimum of 40 minutes before the scheduled departure.
If you're travelling from the Southern Gulf Islands to Tsawwassen, arrive to check in a minimum of 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.
A: When to be at the terminal for our Northern and Mid Coast Routes (reservations required):
For our Port Hardy-Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert-Skidegate routes, the recommended check in time is 2 hours in advance of the sailing. Reservations unclaimed 1.5 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will be cancelled.
For travel from Port Hardy or Prince Rupert to a mid-coast destination, the recommended check in time is 2.5 hours before scheduled departure. Reservations unclaimed 2 hours before sailing will be cancelled.
From the mid coast to Port Hardy or Prince Rupert, plan to be at the terminal 90-120 minutes prior to departure. Reservations unclaimed 60 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time will be cancelled.
Commercial Vehicles travelling on BC Ferries' northern routes should check in 3 hours prior to sailing time. Photo ID is required at check in. Commercial vehicle reservations cancelled 5 days or less prior to the scheduled departure will be assessed a service fee of $100 per reservation. Reservations unclaimed and unpaid 2 hours prior to the scheduled sailing time will be cancelled.
Commercial vehicles should check in 3 hours prior to sailing time. Reservations unclaimed 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure will be cancelled.
Commercial Drop trailers and hostled vehicles should check in 4 hours prior to sailing time. Reservations unclaimed 3 hours prior to the scheduled depatarture will be cancelled.
If you're travelling on a route for which reservations are required, your check in deadline will be confirmed when you book your passage.
Q: When are your ferry terminals usually busiest? A: Our terminals and ships are always busiest on holiday weekends. Peak traffic volumes occur on Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons. On regular weekends, Friday and Sunday afternoons are busy. When travelling during these periods, please allow extra time to reach your destination.
If you are visiting Vancouver Island over the summer months, consider taking one of our weekday mid-morning sailings for a less crowded travel experience.
Q: Can you help me find your terminals? A: While there is plenty of highway signage to guide you to our ferry terminals, we understand that many customers would like more information on how to find them.
With that in mind, we have prepared the following reference pages:
If you would like additional information, please phone us.
Q: Can I park my car at the terminal? A: Many of our larger ferry terminals have pay parking facilities. For more information, please see our Parking Rates and Information page.
Q: Are there any coach lines, bus or shuttle services available? A: Yes. Click here for a list of coach/bus/shuttle companies that can help you complete your trip with BC Ferries.
Q: Does BC Ferries accept Credit Cards? A: Yes, on most routes. In addition to cash and travellers cheques, we accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express for on-the-spot payment of fares at all BC Ferries ticket booths except Mill Bay & Brentwood Bay, Saturna Island, Hornby Island and Cortes Island.
These credit cards may also be used for advance reservations on our Discovery Coast Passage, Inside Passage, Queen Charlotte Islands and Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands routes. Our onboard gift shops and food services are credit-card friendly as well.
Q: Do you have Automated Teller Machines? A: ATMs are available for your convenience at our Tsawwassen, Swartz Bay, Duke Point, Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals. They are not available onboard our vessels at this time.
Q: Can Debit Cards be used for purchases or fare payments? A: Debit Cards cannot be used for purchases or fare payments at this time, except at Port Hardy, McLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella), Prince Rupert and Skidegate terminals.
Q: Are Group Rates available? A: Discount rates are available for groups of 16 or more travelling together, as walk-on passengers or in one vehicle. To qualify you must book at least 7 days in advance. Not applicable on the Port Hardy - Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert - Skidegate and Mid Coast/Discovery Coast Passage routes during PEAK season.
BC Ferries will accept reservations for 10 to 15 people, but the group discount only applies as noted above. Call us for more information.
Q: Do you have special rates for seniors? A: B.C. Seniors travel free on most BC Ferries routes Monday through Thursday except for holidays. This applies to passenger fares only. To take advantage of this program, please present your B.C. Gold Care Card when you arrive at the terminal. Note that this does not apply to our Port Hardy-Prince Rupert, Port Hardy-Mid Coast, Discovery Coast Passage or Prince Rupert-Skidegate routes, though there are special passenger fares for B.C. seniors using these ferry services
Q: Are there special rates for students? A: B.C. students, ages 18 and under (excluding Post Secondary students), with acceptable I.D., can travel free or at a reduced rate between their residence and school, and to attend or participate in school and junior association education and sporting events. Click here for detailed information >>
Q: Are there special rates for people with disabilities? A: Discount fares are available for residents of British Columbia who have a permanent disability (this applies to passenger fares only). To receive them, you must present your BC Ferries Disabled Status Identification (DSI) card when you arrive at the terminal.
Passengers requiring the use of an "overheight" vehicle equipped with a mechanical wheelchair lift or ramp may travel at the posted "underheight" vehicle (car) rate, with or without a DSI card.
Q: Where are the schedules and fares for the ferry between Victoria and Port Angeles? A: Service between Victoria and Port Angeles is provided by the M.V. Coho, which is operated by Black Ball Transport Inc. For information on this passenger and vehicle ferry service, please visit their Web site at www.northolympic.com/coho/.
Passenger-only service is also available from May through September aboard the Victoria Express ferry. Check www.ferrytravel.com/vexpress.htm for details.
Q: Do you have a ferry that travels between Seattle and Victoria? A: No, but Victoria Clipper provides year-round passenger only service between these two cities (see www.victoriaclipper.com/), and Washington State Ferries provides service between Anacortes, Washington and Sidney, which is just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island (see www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/).
Q: Do you have a ferry that travels between Seattle and Vancouver? A: BC Ferries does not provide service between Seattle and Vancouver, and we are unaware of any companies that do at this time.
Q: Can I get to Skagway, Alaska from Prince Rupert? A: Service between Prince Rupert and Alaska is provided by the Alaska Marine Highway system. For more information, visit their Web site at FerryAlaska.com.
Q: Is there a ferry that runs between Port Hardy and Vancouver? A: Normally, no. However, BC Ferries occasionally features 'positioning cruises' when the vessels that provide service on our northern routes begin and end their seasonal operation. Please call us for more information.
Q: Where can I find the winter schedule for the Discovery Coast Passage route? A: Discovery Coast Passage service between Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and Bella Coola on British Columbia's Mid-Coast is only available during the summer months, typically from early June to about the middle of September.
Q: I want to travel on a date not shown on the current schedule pages. Where should I look? A: On the schedule page, look for a link to Upcoming Schedules. You may find the period in which you wish to travel included there. If the schedule for your desired travel period is not yet posted on our site, it will be as soon as it is available. Please check in again shortly.
Q: What is BC Ferries' Lost and Found policy? A: Staff at our terminals make every effort to safeguard found property to allow a reasonable time period for owners to contact BC Ferries. Wallets, Purses and their contents are retained in a secure location for 30 days. Any monies not recovered within 30 days are donated to charitable organizations. Major credit cards not recovered by the owner will be returned to the Card issuer (example: VISA, American Express, etc). Any unclaimed personal information will be destroyed. Other found articles of value (examples: clothing, books, sunglasses, umbrellas, cameras, cell phones, portable electronics, etc) which are not claimed within 15 days are donated to charitable organizations. Items with No or Minimum Value are disposed of accordingly.
Articles defined as "prohibited" under the Criminal Code of Canada are not returned. They are reported to the Manager of Security and handed over to the police.
Articles of minimal value are donated to charity (examples: clothing, books, eyeglasses).
Q: Where should customers go if they have lost money or items? A: If you're looking for an item within 15 days of travelling with us (30 days for wallets and purses), queries should be directed to the terminal where it was lost, or the home terminal of the vessel on which it was lost. Click here for a directory of phone numbers for terminals >>
Q: How do I get my brochures displayed at terminals and on ferries? A: Please contact Certified Folder in Victoria for information on having your brochures displayed at BC Ferries terminals and onboard ships. 250-382-4207 or call toll free: 1-888-697-5557. Email: info@certifiedfolder.com
Q: How do I get advertising posters displayed at terminals and on ferries? A: Please contact Pattison Outdoors in Vancouver for information and rates. Shari Wong: 604-473-4076 or email: swong@pattisonoutdoor.com
Q: Can I advertise on www.bcferries.com? A: At this time, third party advertising is not available on www.bcferries.com. The banner ads that run throughout the site are all related to BC Ferries' packages, products or services. The Coca-Cola identity appears on our home page by special arrangement with this major Corporate sponsor.
Q: How can I have my business added to the Useful Links page of www.bcferries.com? A: BC Ferries is happy to link with Web sites operated by accommodations and attractions in the communities we serve. Before establishing outgoing links, we review candidate sites to make sure they contain appropriate information. We also ask that a prominent, reciprocal link back to www.bcferries.com be created. If you have a site that you would like to have considered for our Useful Links pages, please submit your request to our Web Services Team.
Q: Where should I send marketing-related queries (advertising or joint marketing proposals, travel packaging ideas, sponsorship ideas, etc)? A: Please send marketing related queries to:
BC Ferries 1112 Fort Street Victoria, BC Canada V8V 4V2 Attention: Marketing and Sales
Q: Are food services available on board? A: There's a wide variety of food and beverage services available on BC Ferries ships, ranging from full meal facilities to snack bars. Legendary White Spot fare is available on all Vancouver - Vancouver Island trips as well as between Vancouver and Langdale on the Sunshine Coast. Both cafeteria and gracious dining at the Pacific Buffet are available on our "Spirit" class ships that sail between Vancouver and Victoria. (more >>)
Q: What is your policy regarding passenger conduct? A: BC Ferries seeks to establish a transportation experience that is safe for all of our customers and employees.
Our Company reserves the right to refuse passage to any person who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or whose conduct is unsafe, unlawful or considered to be objectionable.
Any person who attempts to gain passage fraudulently, refuses to pay the prescribed fare or fails to produce proof of payment of fare upon request may be refused passage.
Any vehicle deemed to be in an unsafe condition or carrying prohibited materials will be refused passage.
Q: Can a child under the age of 12 take the ferry without an adult? A: In the interests of safety, children under 12 years of age cannot travel alone on BC Ferries unless they are going to and from school or school-sponsored events on designated commuter routes. Such students must be prepared to show a valid student ID. (Note that, while underage children may travel unescorted given the above circumstances, BC Ferries cannot provide direct student supervision.)
Q: Do you offer special services for people with disabilities? A: We provide special vehicle loading for people who have difficulty with stairs. If you use a wheelchair or walking aid, please tell your ticket agent when you arrive at the terminal and we'll load your vehicle as close to an elevator as possible.
If you are a resident of British Columbia and have a permanent disability, reduced fares are available (this applies to passenger fares only). To receive them, you must present your BC Ferries Disabled Status Identification (DSI) card when you arrive at the terminal. Please call us for details, or download the Information for Passengers with Special Needs Brochure.
Passengers requiring the use of an "overheight" vehicle equipped with a mechanical wheelchair lift or ramp may travel at the posted "underheight" vehicle (or car) tariff with or without a DSI card. Please tell the ticket agent of your vehicle's special status.
Let us know if BC Ferries can assist in any way to make your experience travelling as a foot passenger more comfortable. Please contact our Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) 48 hours prior to your intended departure date to arrange for assistance and additional information on the range of services provided to our customers with varying abilities.
Q: Is hand luggage service available? A: Hand luggage service is available for walk-on passengers on all major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The service is also available on our Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands and Horseshoe Bay-Langdale sailings.
In order to assist our baggage handlers, we ask that you weigh and tag each piece of checked baggage according to the colour indicated on our weigh scales. Customers may be required to self-load any baggage over 45 kg/87 lbs. (Note that there is no access to checked baggage onboard ship.)
If you intend to board a coach on the ferry, please ensure that any baggage you check at the terminal has a bus tag on it.
Q: Do you have telephones on your ferries? A: Major vessels have coin or credit card operated telephones available for passengers. TTY (text telephone) sets are available on major ships serving our southern routes, as well as our terminals at Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen, Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay, Departure Bay and Langdale.
Q: What is your smoking policy? A: BC Ferries offers a smoke free environment within the interior spaces of all our vessels and buildings. Smoking is prohibitted on our ships except within designated exterior smoking areas and prohibitted by law within 3 metres of any doorway. Some vessels do not have any designated smoking areas.
Q: When loading or unloading the ferry's vehicle decks, how do you decide who gets to drive aboard and/or disembark first? A: Although we strive to ensure that our customers are loaded in sequence according to the time of their arrival at the terminal, staff are primarily concerned with dispersing vehicles in an appropriate fashion on the deck. Vehicle loading always requires careful attention to balancing the load and using all available space in an efficient, orderly and safe manner. Loading takes place under the supervision of experienced crew members who are directed by the Chief Officer or Mate of the vessel.
The Chief Officer is required to work with whatever mix of vehicles is waiting to board or disembark from the ship, in the sequence he or she judges will best accomplish these goals. As you can imagine, the mix of vehicles varies greatly from sailing to sailing, and procedures that work well in one situation might not apply in another. The variables are simply too great.
For these same reasons, vehicles that are first to board the ferry might not necessarily be the first to disembark.
Q: Which Web Browsers do you recommend for viewing your website? A: www.bcferries.com works best with the following browsers:
Q: Is there anyone I can phone for more information? A: Yes! BC Ferries' Customer Sales and Service Representatives are available weekdays from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and weekends 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Pacific Time. Recorded information is also available 24 hours a day.
From anywhere in North America, phone 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779). From your cell phone, call *BCF (*223) on Rogers or Telus Mobility networks. From outside North America, our number is (250) 386-3431.
This pagerevised as of Oct 2, 2009 at 12:03 PM Pacific
